Eva #2
“Make it quick, I’ve got a ton of work to do.” I look pointedly around the shop which filled up while I was away with Grant.
“I’ll get straight to the point. Our coven hasn’t been affected like yours from the leylines. We know you’re struggling. I’m offering you all a place in my coven, where your magick can flourish.”
“And what would you get in return?”
“To help fellow witches, of course. You don’t have to waste your magick on flowers and vague tarot readings, Eva. There is so much more out there that you don’t even know about yet.”
She hits a nerve, but I don’t show it. “Thanks, but no thanks.” I go back to cleaning the tabletops. These situations between covens have happened before, and they always end badly.
“Think about it. It’s what’s best for you.”
It’s not even an option. I would never abandon my coven for the promise of more power. The fact that she thinks it would sway me pisses me off.
Lena looks around the coffee shop one more time. It makes me feel protective of my café.
“Bye, Lena! ” Riley blurts from across the café, dismissing her.
Lena sneers at both of us and leaves, dragging that horrible smell with her.
I join Riley behind the counter and pull her into a hug.
“Woah. Everything alright?” Riley pats me on the back.
“No. Everything is not alright. I hate the country club. Grant is being super weird. This Lena chick is pissing me off, and I’ve been so busy the last few days that I haven’t been doing any spellwork.
” I leave out Sorren. It’s another conflicting priority, but I can’t bring myself to think of him as a problem at this moment.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were engaged?” Riley asks softly, leaning away from the hug.
“Cold feet? I don’t know. I’ve felt weird ever since, and I don’t totally understand my own feelings about it, let alone be able to explain them to someone else.”
“Evie, that is not a good sign. I think people are supposed to be happy and excited when they get engaged.”
“I am. I just need a minute to let my brain catch up.”
I think.
“I have grave news to report,” Mom says to the witches gathered in the café that evening for our regular meeting. My ears perk up at her announcement.
Siobhan nods at her. “Go ahead, Robin.” She’s been the de facto leader of the coven since I came of age. She’s not the oldest witch in the bunch, but she’s earned our respect. Running this coven is a lot of work, and we are all happy to let her take charge.
“Two days ago, Lena Moore came to the café. She left quickly, but she came with a purpose.”
The entire café goes silent. My face goes icy cold. If Lena is that big of a concern, they should probably know that she’s been here two other times, not just the one .
“It could be a simple misunderstanding,” one of the witches in the back calls out.
“Lena knows she isn’t allowed in Raincrest,” Paige jumps in.
“Is someone going to tell us what is going on here?” Riley asks, her pen hovering over the journal. As the only word witch in the coven, it’s up to her to document each meeting.
Some of the older witches look back and forth between each other. Siobhan finally answers, “She’s from a neighboring coven in Holloway.”
“They are not supposed to come into Raincrest,” my mom repeats forcefully. I feel like we are only getting a fraction of the context here.
“She’s been to the café a couple times,” I speak up. “Once at night, right when we were closing and the other day when Mom and Paige were here.”
Every eye turns toward me.
“What did she say?” Paige prompts.
“She said our magick would be stronger if we joined her coven,” I answer, realizing how seriously they are all taking this.
Riley chimes in, “She was a total bitch about it, too.”
My mom and aunt make eye contact, doing their weird twin telepathy thing. There is a lot not being said right now.
“If she comes back, make her leave. Do not speak with her. Do not engage with her.” Siobhan chops her hand as though she’s cutting through the tension with her directive.
“Now, does anyone have an update on the fog?” Paige questions the group, deliberately moving the conversation forward.
Most witches just shake their heads, but a few report what they have tried and why it’s not working.
“Well, it let Lena through, so we know it’s only blocking one direction,” I say as soon as the thought occurs to me.
“There has to be a connection here. Why would Lena and the Holloway coven want to keep us locked here?” Siobhan taps her chin, thoughtfully.
Another look between my mom and Paige. I watch the two of them carefully, trying to interpret what is not being said.
“Any news on the leylines?” Mom asks the group.
Flora, a green witch, speaks up first. Her voice cracks as she says, “My magick can barely touch the roots of a pansy anymore.” The two witches on either side of her put their arms around Flora to console her.
“The moon has been hiding behind clouds and not cooperating,” Selene, a lunar witch, declares.
“Riley, any luck on incantations?” My mom sounds hopeful.
“It’s taking extra effort lately. The words aren’t flowing.”
I squeeze her knee and give her a sad smile.
I know what it feels like to be useless when the coven needs you.
It’s frustrating, and you feel like you’re letting everyone down.
I have all the confidence that Riley will find the right words again.
If I could just figure out my magickal inclination, then I could finally contribute in a meaningful way.
No one asks me for an update since it’s apparently a given that I haven’t been able to figure anything out.
The meeting ends on a sour note. No one is happy with their spell work or charms. Watching my coven slowly crumble before my eyes feels like I’m being sucked underwater, and the surface is getting farther away by the second.
The timing of the line closure has always made me fear that I’m at fault.
After all, there is no such thing as a coincidence.
The moment the meeting is adjourned, I drag Riley back to the office. “Don’t tell my mom and aunt about Grant yet. I need to find the right time to tell them.”
Riley looks at me disapprovingly, “You shouldn’t hide it from them. It’s not right.”
“I know. I just need more time to figure everything out.” My explanation sounds like an excuse to avoid a difficult topic. “Are you going home from here?”
“I promised my sister I’d tell River a bedtime story.
She hasn’t been sleeping well, and apparently my stories are perfect for getting a three year old to sleep.
” She grabs her jacket and purse from the hanger on the back of the door.
“I assume you’re going to hide in here until your mom and aunt leave? ”
I choke back a laugh. “You know me too well.”
I’m alone not even a full minute when the absurdity hits me. A grown woman, hiding in her office from her family. This is ridiculous. I go lock up, chuckling at myself.
“What’s so funny?” Paige asks, standing with my mom by my truck. Obviously waiting for me.
I ignore her question. “Have you two been waiting for me this whole time?”
“We wanted to chat with you about Lena. It’s vitally important that you don’t talk to her. Don’t even let her get a sentence out if she shows up again,” Mom says.
“Got it. Persona non grata.” I shove my key in the lock and twist.
“It’s not a joke.” Paige blocks the door, not budging to let me pull it open.
“I know. Sorry, I won’t talk to her. I just want to go home, I’m exhausted.”
Mom watches me suspiciously. I feel the weight of her eyes, assessing, looking for any change in the status quo. Riley’s words embolden me, so I decide to take the plunge.
“Grant asked me to marry him,” I blurt out.
Paige’s mouth drops open and my mom’s eyes bug out.
Please don’t say anything. Please don’t say anything. Whatever they have to say, good or bad, is only going to complicate matters. “You don’t have to say anything. I know your feelings about Grant are complicated.” They know I’m putting it lightly.
“We just want you to be happy, and if that means marrying Grant, then we are thrilled for you,” Mom says, and I almost believe her.
Paige shoots my mom a look. She’s never hidden her feelings about where a man fits into her life.
I think back to when I asked my mom what ‘getting dicked down’ meant.
After Mom spat her tea out and sent me up to my room, I could hear her tearing into Paige about what is and isn’t appropriate for a twelve year old to hear.
“At least he’ll give you space to practice your magick.
” My mom always manages to find the bright side of the situation.
And she’s right, his long hours in the city and weekends at the club won’t mess with my magickal practice in the slightest. It’s kind of a bummer that I’m with a guy whose best quality is that he doesn’t get in the way.
I suspect that’s why they are so neutral about Grant.
“I’m still letting my brain catch up. We haven’t made any wedding plans yet, but I will let you know when things get into motion.”
“You don’t have to say ‘yes’ just because he asked you to marry him.” Paige gives me a look that says she knows what I’m thinking.
My mom grabs her elbow and pulls her twin toward their car.
“Shush. She knows what is best for herself. Eva doesn’t need her old aunt poking around in her life.”
“If I’m old, what does that make you?” Paige hisses back.
The two of them take their bickering into the car and drive away letting me off the hook. Why the two of them live together when they drive each other so crazy is beyond me.
My long day, that started before the sun was up, has finally caught up with me. My vision blurs every time I yawn. My feet ache from being on them all day. I fear that if I sit down for a single second, I won’t be able to get back up, and I have a demon I need to send back to Hell.